experiences with olpc technology in ghana, west africa
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Experiences with OLPC Technology in Ghana,
West Africa
Suzanne Buchele, Ph.D.Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX
(Ashesi University College)
bucheles@southwestern.edu
Friday, October 3, 2008, 10:00am
OLPC in Ghana
• The One Laptop Per Child Project
• My background and interest
• Why is OLPC a Good Idea? Pros
• Why isn’t OLPC the Best Idea? Cons
• Educational Realities in Ghana
• Experiences with OLPC in Ghana
• Observations
• Questions and Discussion
The One Laptop Per Child Project
• Non-profit organization, out of MIT Media Lab
• Launched in 2005 (unofficially started previously)
• Corporate sponsors provided an initial budget of $20 million
• Low-cost, low-power, rugged laptop for the developing world
• Sold to governments of developing countries, for distribution in-country by governments
OLPC Mission
To create educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning.
(Constructionist Learning)
My Background and Interest
• Fulbright to Ashesi University College in Ghana 2006-2007
• Spring of 2007, research group with undergraduates
• Wrote paper on OLPC and its applicability to Ghana
• Fulbright renewed for 2007-2008
• Worked with Ghana and OLPC for 2007-2008 year
Why is OLPC a Good idea? Pros
• The Digital Divide
• Least Developed Countries – Economic Realities
• Educational Problems in LDCs– Access to education– Quality of education– Access to quality education– Girls’ education
• Best use of money?– Why not improve educational quality
and access?– Why not improve infrastructure (or
other initiatives) so that overall economies improve?
• Fundamental issues of technological know-how for implementation and on-going support
Why is OLPC not the best idea? Cons
Educational Realities in Ghana
• Rote Learning
• Not enough teachers
• Not enough schools,
textbooks, and other resources
• Schools are free (up to 8th grade), but…– Uniforms and school supply fees– Short-term opportunity loss to
families
OLPC in Ghana - Timeline
• September 2007 OLPC Reps first contact
• October 2007 In-country workshop
OLPC in Ghana - Timeline
• Nov. 2007 Ghana reps invited to Cambridge for OLPC training
• Dec 07 – Jan 08 Ghana OLPC Implementation Team Meetings
OLPC in Ghana - Timeline
• February 2008 Teacher Training
OLPC in Ghana - Timeline
• Feb 2008 First Pilot in Accra
Accra Pilot
Accra Pilot
OLPC Ghana - Timeline
• March 2008 One Laptop Foundation – Ghana established
• July 2008 Berekuso (rural) pilot
Observations
• Difficult circumstances
• Education is a Human Rights Issue
• Opportunity to fast-forward educational advancement
• Allow access to significant educational resources and opportunities
• Fundamental problem of disseminating technology country-wide
Questions and Discussion
Resources
• www.laptop.org, wiki.laptop.org
• Paper: The One Laptop Per Child Project and Its Applicability to Ghana www.southwestern.edu/~bucheles/ICAST_OLPC_paper.pdf
(with other references in bibliography)
THANK YOU!
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